JOELUIS RAMIREZ CHARGED WITH DRUG DISTRIBUTION IN MAHWAH, NJ

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA

FROM: PROSECUTOR GURBIR S. GREWAL

DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of JOELUIS A. RAMIREZ (DOB: 12/12/1991; single; and unemployed) of 104 Hilltop Road, Mahwah, New Jersey. The arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Upper Saddle River Police Department under the direction of Chief Patrick Rotella, and the Mahwah Police Department under the direction of Chief James Batelli.

In May 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that Joeluis RAMIREZ was involved in the distribution of controlled dangerous substances in the area of Mahwah, New Jersey. During the course of an ensuing narcotics investigation, RAMIREZ distributed several vaporizer cartridges containing THC hash-oil to a detective from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office acting in an undercover capacity. This drug transaction occurred in Mahwah, New Jersey.

On Wednesday, November 29, 2017, Joeluis RAMIREZ was arrested without incident at his residence in Mahwah, New Jersey. A consent search was conducted at RAMIREZ’S residence and a small amount of THC hash-oil and a vaporizer pen containing THC hash-oil was located and seized as evidence.

Joeluis RAMIREZ was charged with one count of Distribution of Hash-Oil within 1000 Feet of Don Bosco Preparatory School, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7, a 3rd degree crime; one count of Distribution of Hash-Oil in a Quantity Under Five Grams, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5B(12), a 4th degree crime; and one count of Possession of Hash-Oil under Five Grams, a Disorderly Person’s Offense. RAMIREZ was released on a summons pending a first appearance court date at Central Judicial Processing on December 20, 2017.

Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Upper Saddle River Police Department and the Mahwah Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.